George C. Wilson (d.2001) was a music educator, band director, Director and Vice-President of the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan. In 1948, he was elected a member of American Bandmasters Association (ABA), where he served on the board of Directors (1963, 1966), as vice-president (1964), and president (1965), and in 1998 was elected as an honorary life member. The George C. Wilson papers include materials relating to Wilsons tenure as the director at Interlochen, including correspondence, programs, calendars, and newspaper clippings from National Music Camp; correspondence and programs relating to appearances as guest conductor and adjudicator in the United States and abroad; and newspapers, correspondence, and other ephemera regarding the creation, at the invitation of Imelda Marcos, of the Philippine National Arts Center in Manila in 1976. Also included in this collection are correspondence, programs, etc. regarding Wilsons career as a conductor prior to becoming director of Interlochen.

Important Information for Users of the Collection

Restrictions:

There are no restricted files in this collection.

Preferred citation:

George C. Wilson Collection, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.

Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Contact the curator for an appointment: http://www.lib.umd.edu/scpa/contact

Status:

This collection is PROCESSED.

Historical Note

Dr. George C. Wilson (1908-2001) was known as a music educator and conductor. He graduated from the University of Illinois and earned a masters degree from Columbia University. Dr. Wilson began his career as a conductor at Kansas State Teachers College and went on to conduct the band and orchestra at University of Arizona. He spent ten years as the director of bands at the University of Missouri, from 1946 until 1956. Elected to the American Bandmasters Association (ABA) in 1948, he was elected president in 1965 and was later named as an honorary life member in 1998. Dr. Wilson helped organize the 1966 conference of the International Society for Music Education, the first to be held in the United States, at Interlochen, Michigan.

Dr. Wilson dedicated much of his life to the National Music Camp, later known as the Interlochen Arts Camp. In 1950, he was elected vice-president and director of the National Music Camp at Interlochen, Michigan and starting in 1958, served as a full-time faculty member at the National Arts Academy. He later served as interim president from 1970 to 1971 of the Interlochen Center for the Arts. In 1973 he assisted Imelda Marcos with the development and planning of the Philippine Center of the Arts, which would later open in 1976. George Wilson died on February 2,4 2001 in St. Louis, Missouri.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The George C. Wilson Collection covers the period from 1936 to 1982. The collection includes materials relating to Wilsons tenure as the director at Interlochen, including correspondence, programs, calendars, and newspaper clippings from National Music Camp; correspondence and other materials relating to his membership and tenure as President of the American Bandmasters Association; correspondence and programs relating to appearances as guest conductor and adjudicator in the United States and abroad; and newspapers, correspondence, and other ephemera regarding the creation, at the invitation of Imelda Marcos, of the Philippine National Arts Center in Manila in 1976. Additional professional papers of Dr. Wilson are held by the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan. These papers are from the Interlochen Center for the Arts records and refer to Dr. Wilsons tenure as director of the National Music Camp.

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

First part of collection gifted to the University of Maryland by George C. Wilson in December 1985.

Processing Information

Processed by:

Nicole Horstman, October 2013

Processing note:

Processing supported by the Rose Marie Grentzer Fund.

Encoded by:

EAD markup created using EAD database in Microsoft Access. Markup completed by Colleen McKnight, June 2007.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Series 1: Personal, 1970-1978 and undated (1 folder and 9 items)

This series contains biographical materials relating to Charles C. Wilson, including excerpts of reviews, a log of musical activities, personal biography, and copies of his business card from his tenure as Vice President and Director of the National Music Camp. Also included in this series are eight yearly personal calendars, arranged chronologically.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Item

Biographical Materials, undated

series 1

box 1

folder 1

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1970

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 1.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1971

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 2.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1972

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 3.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1973

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 4.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1974

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 5.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1975

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 6.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1976

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 7.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1977

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 8.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendar, 1978

series 1

box 1

folder 1

item 9.0

Personal Memorandum- Calendars, 1970-1978

series 1

box 1

folder 2

Series 2: Interlochen Center for the Arts, 1963-1985 and undated (4 folders and 1 item)

This series contains correspondence, programs, clippings, photographs, and a yearbook from Wilsons tenure as director of the National Music Camp at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Items within each folder are arranged chronologically.

This series contains correspondence, minutes and reports, convention and committee materials and clippings relating to the American Bandmasters Association, of which he became a member in 1948 and later served as President in 1965. Correspondence in arranged alphabetically by correspondent, with other materials arranged chronologically.

Series 4: Guest Adjudicating/Conducting, 1934-1985 (2.5 linear feet)

This series contains correspondence and programs relating to appearances as guest conductor and adjudicator in the United States and abroad.

Subseries 4.1: National Music aFestivals, 1934-1985 (1.5 linear feet)

This subseries contains correspondence, programs, and other materials relating to appearances made by Wilson as conductor, adjudicator, and clinician of various music festivals nationally. Items within this subseries are arranged chronologically by year, with certain festivals arranged alphabetically by title.

This sub-series contains correspondence, travel documents, programs, clippings, photographs, and other materials relating to three international music festivals attended by Wilson. The first includes materials from Wilsons trip to Iran and Portugal in 1973. The second, made in 1973, contains newspapers, correspondence, and other ephemera regarding the creation, at the invitation of Imelda Marcos, of the Philippine National Arts Center in Manila. The second, made in 1975, includes correspondence, clippings and other documents relating to the First Japan Band, Orchestra, and Chorus Clinic.

This subseries contains documents related to Wilsons participation in several professional organizations, including the Ann Arbor Civic Symphony, the Michigan Civic Orchestra, and the Northwester Michigan Symphony Orchestra. Materials include correspondence, programs, schedules, and photographs. Items within this sub-series are arranged alphabetically by organization.

Six Flags Over Texas: International Band Festival- Correspondence, Programs, and Travel Documents, 1971-1977

series 4.3

box 7

folder 12

Misc. Professional Academic Organizations, 1959-1976 and undated

series 4.3

box 7

folder 13

Misc. Notes, Receipts, etc., undated

series 4.3

box 7

folder 14

Series 5: Programs, 1936-1982 (30 items)

This series contains thirty programs spanning 1936-1982, arranged by organization, then chronologically. They include programs for Music Educators National Conferences, the first four conferences of the National Band Association, and the first conference of the International Society for Music Education held in the United States.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Item

Music Educators National Conference, 1936-1970

series 5

box 8

folder 1

New York, NY, 1936

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 1.0

St. Louis, MO, 1938

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 2.0

Los Angeles, CA, 1940

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 3.0

Cleveland, OH, 1945

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 4.0

St. Louis, MO, 1950

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 5.0

chicago, IL, 1962

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 6.0

Philadelphia, PA, 1964

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 7.0

Kansas City, MO, 1966

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 8.0

Seattle, WA, 1968

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 9.0

Chicago, IL, 1970

series 5

box 8

folder 1

item 10.0

North Central Music Educators Conference, 1959-1971

series 5

box 8

folder 2

Chicago, IL, 1959

series 5

box 8

folder 2

item 1.0

Columbus, OH, 1961

series 5

box 8

folder 2

item 2.0

Indianapolis, IN, 1965

series 5

box 8

folder 2

item 3.0

Detroit, MI, 1967

series 5

box 8

folder 2

item 4.0

Fargo, ND, 1969

series 5

box 8

folder 2

item 5.0

Cincinnati, OH, 1971

series 5

box 8

folder 2

item 6.0

National Band Association, 1976-1982

series 5

box 8

folder 3

Iowa State University , 1976

series 5

box 8

folder 3

item 1.0

The University of Tennessee, 1978

series 5

box 8

folder 3

item 2.0

The University of Tennessee, 1980

series 5

box 8

folder 3

item 3.0

Kansas City, MO, 1982

series 5

box 8

folder 3

item 4.0

Other, 1947-1976

series 5

box 8

folder 4

Tulsa: Southwestern Music Educators Conference, 1947

series 5

box 8

folder 4

item 1.0

University of Illinois-Urbana: College Band Directors National Association, 1958

Series 6: Photographs, 1936, 1963-1966, 1981 and undated (31 items)

This series contains 31 photographs, many of which are unlabeled and undated. Photographs appear to depict various ABA conferences, concerts, and awards ceremonies, as well as multiple photographs of various buildings and placards donated by the American Bandmasters Association. All photographs are black and white, with one exception, 8x10s in Mylar sleeves, and most have accompanying photocopies.

Description

Series

Box / Reel

Folder / Frame

Item

Photographs, 1936, 1963-1966, 1981 and undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

Program Office of Concert Facility, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 1.0

Ticketing Building of Concert Facility, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 2.0

Two men and two women in formal wear, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 3.0

Group of men and women in formal wear, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 4.0

Man, possibly George Wilson, shaking hands with man and woman in formal Japanese clothing, undated

ABA Group photograph at National Music Camp, Interlochen, Michigan, Seventh Annual Convention, 1936

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 20.0

Woodwind and Brass Chamber Ensemble identified, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 21.0

Woodwind and Brass Chamber Ensemble identified, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 22.0

Unknown group photograph, possibly ABA Convention, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 23.0

Unknown group photograph, possibly ABA Convention, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 24.0

ABA Convention group photograph, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 25.0

ABA Convention group photograph, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 26.0

Revelli, Fennell, Yoder, Wilson and Sloarm (?) at Interlochen, 1963

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 27.0

Unknown group photograph, possibly ABA Convention, 1981

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 28.0

Concert Band photograph taken at the Mid-West National Band Clinic, undated

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 29.0

Twelve men seated at a dinner table, December 1961

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 30.0

Ten men seated at a dinner table [autographed], December 1961

series 6

box 8

folder 5

item 31.0

Related Material

This collection is part of the American Bandmasters Association Research Center

For other related archival and manuscript collections, please see the following subject guides.

Selected Search Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the University of Maryland Libraries' Catalog. Researchers desiring related materials about these topics, names, or places may search the Catalog using these headings.